Resiliency at the Intersections: Black Women Faculty Surviving and Thriving in the Academy

• In Event: 52.019 - Mentoring Scholars: Black and Latino Faculty

Abstract

Women of color in the academy continue to experience disparate treatment, even as they advocate, individually and in groups, for equity and justice. In this collaborative autoethnography, three female faculty of color (an African, an African Caribbean, and an African American) candidly interrogate the challenges and opportunities they experience at the intersection of their gendered and cultural/ethnic selves. Whereas the challenges they experience are consistent with the literature (i.e. micro-aggressions, pay inequities, disparate workloads, work/life balance, etc), the authors focus on their ability to survive and thrive—their growth and resiliency, and the strategies they employ to overcome these challenges. They discuss the relevance of this work for crafting policies and creating best practices towards a more just work environment.

Authors

• Faith Ngunjiri

• Kathy-Ann C. Hernandez, Eastern University

• Chanda Dehron Elbert, Texas A&M University - College Station